Blogger Josh Wolf, of joshwolf.net, has been released from jail – from what is being called the longest contempt of court sentence in the history of U.S. journalism – after turning over a video which showed essentially nothing of interest, and answering a total of two questions for Federal prosecutors. Josh Wolf had been in jail for nearly 8 months for refusing to turn over the video and answer grand jury questions related to a San Francisco protest against the G-8 Summit last year. Wolf claimed first amendment protection of the confidentiality of his sources.
The questions which the Feds wanted answered related to the identity of the protestors, and whether Wolf had information regarding attacks made on a police car during the demonstration.
Josh Wolf had taken video footage of the demonstration, some, but not all, of which he sold to local news outlets. Prosecutors wanted to see the entire footage, which Wolf refused to turn over purely on, as it turns out, principle. Once the full footage was viewed (and it’s now up on Wolf’s website), it’s clear that there is actually little of interest in the video. Nothing particularly unlawful happens on the video, and all but three of the protestors make no effort to even conceal their identity.
In the deal struck with Federal prosecutors which lead to Wolf being released on Tuesday, Wolf turned over the full video, and was allowed to answer two questions in writing. Wolf’s attorney said that they had made the government this very same offer last November,
Said Wolf on the day of his release “I’m completely satisfied with the resolution. There’s a very large problem with forcing a reporter to act as an investigator for a government prosecution,” adding that, “It’s absolutely a victory.”
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You can watch the complete, unedited video, at joshwolf.net.
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Much ado about nothing!
I can think of a lot of better ways to make a name for myself than this.
I don’t think he was asking to be an investigator, only a witness to a possible felony.
If he saw a young child being abused, would he use the same logic?